Random testing now part of NASCAR's drug policy (cont'd)

The amended policy mandates that all drivers in NASCAR's three national series, Cup, Nationwide and Truck, be tested prior to the start of the 2009 season. Team owners must also verify that all licensed crew members have been tested by a lab certified by the U.S. government agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, prior to the start of the season.

O'Donnell said that "baseline test" would be done by AEGIS personnel during preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway, and all drivers present would be required to submit samples. He said anyone who failed to show up for a scheduled test would be considered as having failed the test.

While some high-profile drug-related cases involving NASCAR athletes have occurred recently, no mention of either case was made in NASCAR's announcement.

Last weekend at New Hampshire, NASCAR held a news conference to absolve defending Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday of physician-prescribed steroid use to mitigate a thyroid condition. Last year, Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was indefinitely suspended for using heroin.

• Hornaday used testosterone
• NASCAR won punish Hornaday
• Menzer: Hornaday not abusing

In addition, NASCAR will test its officials prior to the start of the 2009 season. Drivers, over-the-wall crew members and NASCAR officials thereafter will be subject to random tests throughout the year, while the original program of testing on the basis of "reasonable suspicion" would also remain in place.

O'Donnell also spelled out who would pay for the program.

"I don't want to get into the overall costs, but NASCAR will be responsible for all of the tests, the preseason baseline tests for the competitors and officials and then all of the random tests throughout the year," O'Donnell said. "The car owners will be responsible for the cost of their licensed crew member tests prior to the start of the season."

O'Donnell said driver reaction in the meeting was generally positive.

"I think for the most part, and no secret, you've read a lot of the comments prior coming to Dover, that we believe we've got a very clean sport and we also think that the competitors are very supportive of the new policy," O'Donnell said. "As with any new program, there will be questions about how it will work, what will you be testing for. What we did [Saturday] was just lay out the basics of the program and let them know that we'll have people on-site to discuss where we're going with the program and then kind of lay out a full booklet for them to go over the policy moving forward. I think overall [the reaction was] very positive."

Roush Fenway Racing driver David Ragan said, assuming the schedule worked around a busy weekend schedule -- which O'Donnell said it would -- that he had no problem with the updated procedure.

"I think we do have a very clean sport," said Ragan, who competes in both the Cup and Nationwide Series in No. 6 Fords. "They could test us before every race if they want to. Also, we don't want to spend a bunch of time every race having to go to locations --- we're busy enough with on-track activities, and the things that we do with our sponsors and fans.

"But yeah, it's no concern. Lay the paper out in front of me and I'll sign whatever you got, and we'll keep on racing. Whatever they want to do is perfectly fine with me; no questions on my behalf."

Two more "middle-aged" drivers from Penske Racing, Sam Hornish Jr., 29, who's familiar with drug testing from his time in the IndyCar Series, and teammate Ryan Newman, 30, offered thoughtful perspectives with Newman, in particular, appreciating the educational aspect.

"You know, the IRL did a full physical before the season started, I know that they took blood, they took urine -- all that stuff," Hornish said. "I don't know what they even did with it [but] you knew that they were definitely checking and then they started actually doing random tests. I think I was probably one of the first people randomly tested.

"It's always nice to know that the series that you're in is taking [drug abuse] seriously because there's different drugs, prescription and non-prescription that definitely can have an affect on not only your mood and the way you act outside the car but also inside the car."

"I think that it's a great step [and] it's good that NASCAR is starting [the revised policy] in 2009," Newman said. "It will give us time to figure out what the guidelines are for us to follow. How much cough medicine will make you positive [in a drug test]? Does a Z-Pak have an effect on you? Those things we'll have to learn and the communication between your physician and AEGIS will be important to make sure we're doing the right things and handling it the right way."

Newman, for one, didn't have a problem with the lack of a list of questionable or banned substances.

"I think NASCAR will continue to develop that as time goes on," Newman said. "There are obviously banned substances and there are substances that are legal that can make you illegal. You just have to make sure you don't put yourself in jeopardy in NASCAR's perspective."

Veteran Bobby Labonte, 44, said there was no question the policy was the right move. (Continued)